help! think I'm in labour, is anyone up?

[Gemmitygem]

1st timer here, been having steady contractions (with pain but not unbearable pain) from 4pm this afternoon to now, was every 10-15 minutes, now every 8 minutes. Bloody show at 11pm. Hurts too much to sleep so got up and ate some noodles. Can't wake the inlaws (who would be taking me to hospital) at this time, and hospital said only go at 5 cm... DH in London (I'm in Belgium) and also don't want to wake him just yet...

If anyone's up I'd really appreciate your support, just a friendly face!

[booge]

I'm still here Accupunture today and another sweep tomorrow and more accupunture tomorrow. Fingers crossed for everyone else.

[marthahm]

i'm still here too. increasing bh but nothing else. had a v hot curry last night (even ate the chillies) but nothing. have been doing 40 minute marches every day to encourage the baby out. if i drink any more raspberry leaf tea i think i'll turn into a raspberry

[booge]

Hi, Anya was born yesterday morning after about a 3 hour labour. I had acupunture on Wednesday and did a little nipple twiddling while watching the Apprentice before going to sleep. That seemed to start some contractions durning the night and when I had to get up for DS in the early morning they persisted, getting quite regular by around 7am.

I rang the midwife and said I thought something might be happening to forewarn her. She said she would ring back at 8. By then the contractions were lasting abut 40 seconds and 2 minutes apart so she came straight over while DH took DS to the childminder. He rang about 8.30 to say he had missed the childminder who had gone to do the school run. The midwife said just hurry back she's 9 cm and wanting to push. So dh dropped DS at a friend and shot back, burning rubber, just in time for the pushing. Anya was born in the sitting room at 9.15, I only needed gas and air. There was a problem after her head came out as her shoulder was stuck but my midwives soon had her out. She need a bit of oxegen to get going but within a couple of minutes she was rosey and having skin to skin.

She weighed 9lb 14oz so she's a bony lass!! The midwife said as subsequent babies tend to be bigger and her shoulder got stuck if I have any more it should be in hospital. However both DH and are are happy to stop at 2. I would throughly reccommend a home birth with an experienced midwife. Even though I tore again I feel much more comfortable than I did in hospital and the birth was a really positive happy experience. It is lovely to be at home with DH and our children.

[Princesitalinda]

booge - congratulations!!! I am so happy for you, it sounds like you had a great experience! welcome Anya to this world

I trully admire mums who dare to go to a natural and home birth. I am just to scared, I need the reasurance from an hospital environment I am afraid. I hate the level of intervention, true, but also like to know that I'm already there if things don't go quite smooth.

Congratulations again, I can't wait to share the news with you all. I'm still here, with BHs, but to be fair, its not really my due date yet (23d. october) and DS1 was 10 days late, so I might go over due again!

are you still around marthahm?

[darlink]

well done Booge!

[Gemmitygem]

a postscript:

Thanks for all your support on Thurs night! Well, things kept contracting every 7 minutes until Sat afternoon (waters broke Fri night), when doctors suggested Synotocin, I said 'only with an epidural in place, thanks', epidural only worked on one side and I was in agony with horrid doctor telling me off for letting the monitor slip offf, but I just COULDN"T stay lying on my back with the pain.. had screaming match with doctor which in retrospect she could have dealt with it a bit better seeing as I was the one in labour, but anyway... delivery was dreamlike and I couldn't feel anything down below as the epi had worked there, but somehow I managed to push the baby out, without tearing at all (couldn't believe my luck), and Darius Jonathan was born at 11 20 pm on Sat, a bit blue but soon recovered, weighing 2.8 kg (6 pounds 2).

5 days in Belgian hospital with lovely midwives helping me with breastfeeding and every aspect of baby care, more than made up for the horrible doctors. Now back at home enjoying being a family!

[bctmum]

GGem - many congratulations - what lovely news xxx

[Princesitalinda]

congratulations gemmitygem! its great to hear your news... hopefully we will be there soon

[mamamaaargh]

So glad to hear your news Gemmitygem. Welcome Darius Jonathon

[belgo]

COngratulations Gem on the birth of Darius - Glad you enjoyed your stay in hospital - as for the screaming match with your docter, it sounds remarkably similar to my birth experience also in a Belgian hospital - I wonder if we had the same doctor? .

[arfishymeau]

. Congratulations Gem!! I'm really pleased for you. Thanks for the update, I've been wondering how you are. Your aftercare sounds great, shame about the doctor. . A cliche, but it's all worth it in the end.

[shhhh]

congrats booge..what a weight..! DD was 9lb 4 so I expect ds2b won't be to far behinf..! Oucch..!

Congrats to gemitygem as well..!!! Glad all went well. xx